BioData Blogs

Our weekly compilation of science news for the week of September 6, 2009.

After Hubble repair, new images from Space: The pictures and observations from the Hubble telescope were the first since a crew replaced, refurbished and rebuilt its vital components in the spring.

Breakthrough discoveries of Alzheimer’s genes: Fifteen years since the last discovery of its kind, scientists have finally identified a new set of genes that may contribute to Alzheimer’s disease.

Dopamine primes kidneys for a new host: Transplant patients may fare better if brain-dead organ donors receive an infusion of the compound before surgery

JAMA: the journal of the American Medical Association, 302 (10), 1067-75 PMID: 19738091

Dozens of new species found in island crater: A chance discovery by a BBC documentary team on the island of Papua New Guinea reveals dozens of new species, including a housecat-size rat and a frog with fangs.

Endothelin receptor may play role in sickle cell pain: Researchers believe vaso-occlusion is caused by a blockage of the blood vessels that occurs when sickle shaped red cells attempt to pass through the round blood vessels. Research team suggests that a naturally occurring chemical in the body, endothelin may lead to pain.

Eyes see trouble coming before brain notices: Newly discovered eye cells can warn us that an object is coming nearer, and do so without the brain’s help.

Münch, T., da Silveira, R., Siegert, S., Viney, T., Awatramani, G., & Roska, B. (2009). Approach sensitivity in the retina processed by a multifunctional neural circuit Nature Neuroscience DOI: 10.1038/nn.2389

First stem cell drug fails 2 late-stage clinical trials: The failure of Prochymal, from Osiris Therapeutics, is a setback for the use of adult stem cells to fight organ rejection.

New biosensor can detect bacteria instantaneously: A research group has developed a biosensor that can immediately detect very low levels of Salmonella typhi, the bacteria that causes typhoid fever.

Zelada-Guillén, G., Riu, J., Düzgün, A., & Rius, F. (2009). Immediate Detection of Living Bacteria at Ultralow Concentrations Using a Carbon Nanotube Based Potentiometric Aptasensor Angewandte Chemie International Edition DOI: 10.1002/anie.200902090

One coral alga explodes with temperature increase: When Caribbean coral reefs are in hot water, one alga takes advantage of the situation — and possibly comes to the rescue.

Pandemic flu can infect cells deep in the lungs, says new research: Researchers say this may explain why people infected with the pandemic strain of swine-origin H1N1 influenza are more likely to suffer more severe symptoms than those infected with the seasonal strain of H1N1.

Nature Biotechnology, 27 (9), 797-799 DOI: 10.1038/nbt0909-797

Potato famine pathogen packs unusual, sneaky genome: Quick-changing zones may be key to the microbe’s vexing adaptability.

Study spells out spread of brain illness in animals: The infectious agent that leads to chronic wasting disease is spread in the feces of infected animals long before they become ill, new research indicates.